An Interior Designer’s Stylish Home Sports Problem-Solving DIYs and a Smart Furniture Layout

published Nov 7, 2019

An Interior Designer’s Stylish Home Sports Problem-Solving DIYs and a Smart Furniture Layout

published Nov 7, 2019
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Bedrooms
N/A
Square feet
1600
Sq ft
1600
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Name: Jess Diab
Location: West Hollywood, California
Size: 1,600 square feet
Years lived in: 6 years

When Jess Diab moved into her West Hollywood apartment, she knew exactly how to make it into the home of her dreams. Jess is an interior designer and ceramicist who runs her own business while also hustling for the likes of Orlando Soria (star of HGTV’s “Unspouse My House”) and other giants of the design industry. “As an interior designer, my primary focus is how to use design to cultivate an environment that fosters an inherent connection to the present moment, enhancing our well-being, and bringing us true fulfillment,” she says. “We all embody a distinct way of relating to the world and what we seek to contribute to it. Under this ethos, our spaces should be a place where you breathe easier and feel safe to open up fully, which is exactly what pioneered the way within my own home.”

Jess says she wanted her space to have an L.A. mid-century modern feel with a focus on contemporary artists and their stories. As an artist herself, Jess says she intentionally filled the home with pieces that inspire her, from the art on the walls to ceramics on every surface.

Just as important as the style of the space was the functionality. Jess says she wants a space that feels welcoming to others, like a second home. A lover of dinner parties, Jess wanted to be sure her space had lots of thoughtful details for hosting. “Sharing a meal while swapping stories and lending listening ears has the ability to connect and ground us to what truly matters in life, beyond our highlight reels and professional exteriors,” she says.

Apartment Therapy Survey:

My Style: Playfully ethereal. I love keeping it feeling as fresh and airy as possible, while incorporating pieces of decor that remind me to loosen up and have fun with the adventure of life. Hence the oversized disco balls, graphic prints, and plants in every nook!

Inspiration: Currently, my latest inspiration is Josef Frank, a Swedish designer of the early 1900s, who used color and nature motifs to encourage people to breath easier, slow down, and tap into their playful, imaginative side. The “Kinfolk Home” book has also been a huge source of inspiration in continuing this idea of using interiors to enhance our well being in a holistic sense.

Favorite Element: My closet doors wallpapered in Josef Frank’s Eldblomman motif.

Biggest Challenge: How to use one large room as both a formal dining room and a relaxed living room. By placing the sofa in the center of the room, the straight back created a natural division between both spaces.

Proudest DIY: There is actually a door connecting my room into the kitchen. Obviously, not ideal both for visual reasons and sound-wise. I created an eight-foot upholstered headboard and installed it above the door with a French cleat fastened out of 2×4 plank of wood. Voila! No door, no sound, and tons of bliss.

Biggest Indulgence: Plants. The more the merrier. They all require different light and watering schedules so I’m still learning how to care for them, but it brings me so much relaxation. They say you turn into your mother… they were right.

Best Advice: Just try it. The tendency to overthink a project will be the first obstacle in creating a space you love.

Resources:

PAINT & COLORS

  • Simply White – Benjamin Moore

LIVING ROOM


DINING ROOM

KITCHEN

BEDROOM

BATHROOM

  • Shower curtain – Target

Thanks Jess!

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